If you want to look at similar pages for other ships go to: * * * Index - Use this to find your Ship * * * (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3210.msg52142#msg52142)
Welcome on board the USS Rodgers
This post covers a log page from 1881.
(http://i.imgur.com/70bu4a9.png)
Have a look around the forum, and don't hesitate to pose questions! There are lots of people who would be happy to respond. Each time you join a new ship have a look for one of these pages.
Feel free to add your own questions and comments to: Rodgers -- Discussion: Questions and Comments (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=2973.msg47208#msg47208)
Comments on the log:
- This is a fairly standard log format.
- The ink is very pale on the page during early/mid August 1881
- The writing is worse than average, but you do get used to it.
- Normally there are 24 weather records per day.
- Note
that the date in the log is in US order (month, day, year) and on the
Date tab the order is day, month, year following the Royal Navy format.
- Latitude and longitude are almost never specified.
- Note
that on the RN ships we encouraged transcribers to record the names of
people, places, and ships mentioned in the log. Now that we are in the
Arctic, there are some new items that are of interest. The scientists
would appreciate your recording sightings of sea ice on the Sea Ice tab
and sightings of animals on the Animals tab. The historians would
appreciate your recording refueling on the Refueling tab.
Links to helpful transcribing information:
- Guides for US logs (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3078.msg49657#msg49657)
- Type What You See - Yes, but ... (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51625#msg51625)
- HELPFUL REFERENCE POSTS (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3301.0)
- Handwriting Help (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=8.0)
- What Does THAT mean? (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=9.0)
- Technical Support (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?board=14.0)
Links to further info about the ship:
- http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-USNShipsList.htm#Rodgers
- http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/jeanette.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Rodgers_%281879%29
- http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r8/rodgers-i.htm
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B0CE1DD1E3EE433A25751C2A9609C94639FD7CF
A fellow transcriber (wendolk) has created a database to help both transcribers and historians (and contributors are welcome):
Searchable Database (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=2872.msg44227#msg44227)
Weather Page:
Example: http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0033_0.jpg
The
written details are transcribed as follows, though the page you are
working on will not display a grid in this way. Note that the data in
some columns is not transcribed and that some logs do not have all the
columns included on the Weather Observation tab, so, before clicking OK,
check that your data is in the correct fields. It is more important to
be accurate than to be fast. Only transcribe what is written. Ask on the
forum for handwriting help if unsure.
Location | Place Name | Name = At Sea
| Hour | | Wind Dir | | Force | | Bar Height | | Ther Attached | | Dry | | Wet | | Water | | Weather Code | | Cloud Code | | Clear Sky | |
| 1 | W | 6-5 | 30.32 | 60 | 55 | 52 | 57 | oc | Cum | 0 |
| 2 | " | 6-5 | 30.32 | 60 | 55 | 51 | 57 | " | " | 0 |
| 3 | " | 5-4 | 30.36 | 60 | 55 | 52 | 57 | bc | " | 3 |
| 4 | " | 5-4 | 30.36 | 60 | 55 | 52 | 57 | oc | " | 0 |
| 5 | " | 4 | 30.36 | 58 | 58 | 52 | 57 | oc | " | 0 |
| 6 | " | 4 | 30.36 | 58 | 55 | 52 | 58 | " | " | 0 |
| 7 | WxS | 3-4 | 30.40 | 58 | 55 | 53 | 58 | ocq | Cum-Nim | 0 |
| 8 | W | 2-3 | 30.40 | 58 | 55 | 53 | 58 | " | " | 0 |
| 9 | " | 3-4 | 30.41 | 56 | 58 | 53 | 56 | ocpq | Cum | 0 |
| 10 | " | 3-4 | 30.41 | 57 | 58 | 53 | 56 | " | " | 0 |
| 11 | " | 3-4 | 30.42 | 56 | 56 | 52 | 58 | " | " | 0 |
| Noon | " | 3-4 | 30.43 | 57 | 57 | 52 | 58 | bc | " | 3 |
| Hour | | Wind Dir | | Force | | Bar Height | | Ther Attached | | Dry | | Wet | | Water | | Weather Code | | Cloud Code | | Clear Sky | |
| 1 | W | 4-5 | 30.42 | 60 | 58 | 53 | 58 | bc | Cum | 4 |
| 2 | " | 4-5 | 30.42 | 60 | 58 | 53 | 58 | " | " | 3 |
| 3 | " | 3-5 | 30.42 | 60 | 58 | 53 | 58 | " | " | 1 |
| 4 | " | 4-5 | 30.40 | 60 | 55 | 53 | 58 | oc | " | 0 |
| 5 | " | 4-5 | 30.38 | 56 | 52 | 52 | 58 | ocq | " | 0 |
| 6 | " | 4-5 | 30.38 | 55 | 59 | 51 | 56 | " | " | 0 |
| 7 | " | 5 | 30.36 | 54 | 54 | 51 | 56 | " | " | 0 |
| 8 | " | 5 | 30.36 | 54 | 54 | 51 | 56 | " | Nim | 0 |
| 9 | WxS | 4-5 | 30.34 | 55 | 53 | 51 | 55 | " | " | 0 |
| 10 | " | 4-5 | 30.34 | 54 | 53 | 51 | 55 | " | " | 0 |
| 11 | " | 4-5 | 30.33 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 55 | " | " | 0 |
| Mid | " | 4-5 | 30.33 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 54 | " | " | 0 |
Notes for transcribers:
- Zeros
sometimes look like ones. However, when this happens the zeros tend to
be slightly thicker and shorter than ones. The number one almost tails
out at the bottom end. Use as much magnification as you can if unsure.
- There
is no field on the page specifically for refueling. If the amount of
coal received is mentioned, the data should go on the Refueling tab.
There may be entries for 'Coal consumed' and 'Coal remaining', but there
is no need to enter these numbers unless they interest you (in which
case they would go on the Events tab).
Record of the Miscellaneous Events of the Day:
Example: http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0033_1.jpg
This
page has been completely transcribed below to help new transcribers
become familiar with both the writing and the language used. Nobody is
expected to transcribe all the text! Following it are some comments
about transcribing the page.
Lieut Robt. M. Berry
Monday June 27 1881
Commencing and until 4 a.m.
Fresh to moderate breeze from the W. Overcast most of the
watch. Very brilliant comet visible to the North.
Geo. M. Stoney
Ensign U.S.N.
4 to 8 a.m.
Moderate breeze from W. Squally. Took in T.G. to squall
at 630 am + 7.am. Reset them when squall passed.
Master
8 to Mrdn
Moderate breeze with passing rain squall. Rising Bar. cum
Clouds
Ensign U.S.N.
Mrdn to 4 p.m.
Moderate to stiff breeze from the W. Overcast and cold. Cloudy
with the sun accasionally visible. Ship rolling Easily. Water filled with
animal life. Bar falling last hour of watch
Geo. M. Stoney
Ensign U.S.N.
4 to 6 p.m.
Cloudy and cold. Fresh breeze from W. Moderate sea. Squally with pas-
sing rain. At 5.30 took in royals and Flying jib to squall + reset them when
squall passed. 5.45 p.m
Master U.S.N.
6 to 8 p.m.
Moderate breeze from W. Bar falling. occasional squalls
Ensign U.S.N.
8 to midnight
Moderate to stiff breeze from W, Cloudy + cold Took in top Galt sail
and main sail to squall. reset them after squall. Bar steady. Squally
weather
Geo. M. Stoney
Ensign U.S.N.
H S Waring Master USN
Notes for transcribers:
- The date should be transcribed. Date = 27/06/1881.
- Unless
the weather page starts to show latitude/longitude/port names, note any
bearings of names land/features noted on this page
- With the exception of the date and bearings, entering any or all of the information on this page is optional.
- "Water
filled with animal life" doesn't really belong on the Animals tab
because of the lack of detail. It could be entered on the Events tab as
"Mrdn to 4 pm Water filled with animal life." or simply as "Water
filled with animal life."
We weren't sure ourselves, so we posed the question on the forum:
Hmmmm.
It would difficult to define the 'Type of animal' (other than aquatic,
presumably) or the 'Number of animals' from that entry sooooo I would go
with Events. :D
- The comet could also be entered on the Events tab.
- In
the section "Mrdn to 4 p.m.", the log keeper appears to have written
'accasionally' when he really meant to write 'occasionally'. To me, the
letter is clearly an 'a', so I have transcribed it as such. If the
letter had been ambiguous, I would have transcribed it as 'o', because
that would make sense.
- All the full stops (periods) used in the
log entries have been transcribed, but full stops in common
abbreviations may be omitted. See 'Sometimes we can take a little
shortcut' in Type What You See - Yes, but ...
(http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3191.msg51631#msg51631) for
more details.
Log keeper's quirks:
- Fire is often written as 'fier'. Fier is an old spelling of fire.
Other information and comments:
List of Officers
(As of 16 June 1881)
R. M. Berry Lieut
H. S. Waring Master
C. F. Putnam Master
H. J. Hunt Ensign
Geo. M. Stoney Ensign
M. D. Jones P. Asst. Surg.
A. V. Zane P. Asst. Eng.
J. D. Castello Asst. Surg.
Wm. Gilder Pay Clerk
H. De Tracey Acting Carp.
Spelling not guaranteed correct!
Stoney may also be Storey
P. Asst. Surg. is Passed Assistant Surgeon
and the ship's dog:
(http://i.imgur.com/z5eMRQp.png)